Rape Charges Dismissed Against NP Man

Rape charges filed against a 20-year-old North Platte man have been dismissed.

On October 15, 2012, North Platte Police responded to the emergency room at Great Plains Regional Medical Center on the report of a sexual assault.

Upon arrival, a female victim told officers she had been sexually assaulted by Joshua Walsh at a residence on West 9th Street. The victim stated that she had awoken to find Walsh attempting to have sexual intercourse with her.

Through the investigation, a DNA sample was submitted by Walsh, who was 19 at the time, and sent to the Nebraska State Patrol lab for testing. Police said the results of the test indicated the presence of Walsh’s DNA.

Walsh was arrested on August 20th, 2013, and has been held at the Lincoln County Detention Center since that time.

At a status hearing Monday, Walsh’s attorney, Robert Lindemeier, argued that the case should never have been bound over to District Court based on a lack of evidence by prosecutors.

Lindemeier said in court that, “When you do this (practice law) for this long, you get a sense when something stinks, and this case stinks.”

Lindemeier said the DNA evidence was not sufficient and only provided a partial profile of the suspect. He said the results showed that the DNA would be a match for 1 in 10 males, saying that, based on the DNA evidence, there could be 20 potential suspects sitting in the court room.

Lincoln County District Court Judge Donald Rowlands took the case under advisement, and on Tuesday, issued a statement that he was dismissing the case against Walsh without prejudice, meaning the State could re-file charges against Walsh if more evidence is obtained within the next two years.

Following the ruling, Walsh was released from jail.

In a Facebook post, Walsh’s family said they are thankful for the love, prayers and support him and his family received throughout the ordeal.

disgusting and pathetic? Wow isnt that the pot calling the kettle black? Maybe you and Miss Shore should take a hard long look in the mirror! The only pathetic and disgusting person is Taylor for making false accusations against not only my son but 2 other poor souls before him! And learn the facts you moron! The DNA (or lack of) excluded my son on ALL samples except a small partial incompleate section of the outer waistband of her pajama pants (which prior to, were laying on the bathroom floor). We can proove beyond doubt that Josh never touched her…can you proove Taylors not a lying drug addict who obviously doesnt care whos life she ruind as long as she gets what she wants? By the way they did find her boyfriends sperm and an unknown persons sperm on her panties…DNA excluded Josh on that sample….now im not saying she sleeps around but if the shoe fits….